Trama

Based upon the life of actress Parveen Babi, this film describes the life of schizophrenic actress Sana Azim and the love of her life: Aditya Garewal.

Woh Lamhe tells the story of Sana Azim (Kangana Ranaut), a Bollywood superstar who is dominated by her boyfriend Nikhil (Shaad Randhawa), who makes all her career decisions for her. To the world she is a successful and independent woman, but she's actually lonely and lost, a mere puppet in Nikhil's hands. Aditya Garewal (Shiney Ahuja) is an aspiring director keen on casting Sana for his debut film, but only on his own terms; he is willing to go to any lengths to get her to agree to the film, even if that means preying on her slight insecurities and her turbulent relationship with Nikhil. Nikhil is successful in casting her in her film, which turns out to be a super hit. But somewhere along the way he realizes that he just can't pull away from Sana; he has actually fallen in love with her in spite of his friend Sam (Purab Kohli) reminding him that Sana is just their ladder to success. As the film progresses Aditya realizes that Sana is not just insecure and lonely; she's also mentally unbalanced, suffering from acute schizophrenia. She's haunted by the imaginary Rani who leads her to believe that everyone is out to kill her. Sana's mother and Nikhil get her admitted to the hospital and resort to shock treatment to speed up her recovery so she can return to all her assignments. What follows is Aditya's unshakable belief that he can heal Sana; he even gives up his burgeoning career to take her away from the industry and free Sana from all of her mental demons. But she's unable to break free of her illness, and one day she walks out of Aditya's life, no longer wanting to be the cause of pain and turbulence in his life. Three years later they meet in a hospital after Sana's suicide attempt.—gavin@sunny_deol2009@yahoo.com

Sana Azim once lived in Junagadh with her widowed mom. She was discovered by Nikhil Rai, who introduced her to Bollywood's tinsel screen, and from then on this actress never looked back. She lived with Nikhil in a strange relationship; he ordered her around, controlled her--even physically abused her. When journalist/filmmaker Aditya Garewal wrote about Sana, he described her in very unflattering terms, angering her, which led to a well-publicized confrontation which was merely a ploy Aditya used, successfully, to compel Sana to act in his films. They started working together and were drawn to each other, and Aditya was drawn into Sana's dark, unstable world, where she was controlled by a woman named Rani who has made her believe that Aditya will kill her--and the only thing she can do is kill Aditya first.—rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)

In the glitzy entertainment capital of Mumbai as dusk descends, actress Sana Azim (Kangana Ranaut) slits her wrists in a hotel room, in an attempt to kill herself. When this news reaches film-maker Aditya Garewal (Shiney Ahuja), he is devastated. Aditya has been searching for Sana, who was intensely involved with Aditya and who had mysteriously disappeared from his life without any explanation, three years ago, only to surface now in what could be the last moments of her life.

As Aditya waits outside the ICU, praying to be reunited with her, he is hurled back into the perfumed days and champagne nights of his memory, wherein Sana played the role of a lover and mentor to a struggling Aditya.

Sana was the top actress of the 90's & was being exploited for her fame by her boyfriend Nikhil (Shaad Randhawa) who wanted to use Sana to fulfill his own ambitions. Aditya was a struggling director & desperately wanted to Sana to star in his movie. Aditya insults Sana in a public party & hurts her ego & he knows that Sana goes after people who hurt her ego. He spots Sana at a fashion show, where he rebukes her for being ugly inside-out. He insults her to a point where she throws her underwear on him, thus garnering media attention. Nikhil, her abusive boyfriend, scolds her and sexually assaults her. Sana's mother also scolds her for this act.

Aditya wants to use & throw Sana for his own fame. He is proven right, when Sana driven by the turmoil in her life, thinks of Aditya as a genuine person. Sana agrees at first to work with Aditya for his film, but later she declines as she is bound by a contract. When Nikhil forbids Sana from working with Aditya, Aditya goads Sana that she is just a slave. Sana finds Nikhil cheating on her & breaks down publicly. Sana leaves Nikhil & is wandering aimlessly when she seeks refuge at Aditya's house.

Sana breaks free from Nikhil's misery and agrees to work with Aditya. Sana stars in Aditya's movie. During the shoot, both become close to each other. During the last day of the shoot, Sana tearfully says that she will miss him, and those memories spent during the shoot. Aditya compares those memories to the sandcastles on the beach by saying that those sandcastles remain in our memories forever even though they are knocked down by the waves. During the film premiere, both fall in love with each other.

The movie is a huge hit & Aditya becomes an overnight star. Sana falls in love with Aditya & even sleeps with him. But Aditya makes it clear that is not looking at any future with Sana. Sana is harassed by a girl Rani (Masumeh Makhija) from her past (who was Sana's room-mate) who keeps haunting Sana about her moving on & forgetting about her when she became a big star. One day Sana spots Rani entering her hotel room. No one believes Sana as the security CCTV shows nothing & Sana is thought to be hallucinating. Sana believes Rani will kill her.

Aditya investigates & finds Sana's old landlords who tell him that Rani is just a figment of Sana's imagination. It is revealed that Sana is a patient with schizophrenia who has excessive hallucinations of Rani, who doesn't even exist, which gradually ruins both Sana's life and career. When Aditya realizes that the only way he can save Sana from total devastation is to take her away from Bollywood and the vested interests that threaten to destroy her completely.

Sana has a breakdown during shooting, & before Aditya can help, she is committed to a mental institution. Under pressure from Nikhil & Sana's mom, Sana is subjected to shock therapy to speed up her recovery process as producers have staked 100 Crores on her.

Aditya wants to help Sana as his own father was a chronic alcoholic & was subjected to shock therapy when Aditya was a kid. Aditya puts his career on hold to help Sana & even rescues her from the hospital. Nikhil & Sana's mom allege that Aditya has kidnapped Sana. Aditya hides Sana in Goa at the house of his doctor friend Saloni (Candida Fernandes), who also treats Sana.

Sana seems to show signs of drastic recovery, but this turns out to be a false hope as Saloni finds that Sana has been intentionally skipping her medications. Combined with her psychosis, this makes Sana a very dangerous woman.

Rani appears again & convinces Sana that Aditya is plotting to kill her. Rani convinces Sana to attack Aditya & kill him first. Sana attacks Aditya & stabs him, while he tries to protect her till the very end. He refuses to send Sana to a mental hospital even after the attack. He professes his love to her.

One day, suddenly, she disappears, leaving him with unanswered questions. Aditya is shocked. Nikhil traces Aditya & has him arrested, but there is no trace of Sana. Back in present, Sana regains consciousness, but has little time left to live. Aditya & Sana embrace each other. They both profess their love for each other, and she breathes her last. Nikhil asks him what he will do next, to which Aditya replies that he doesn't know.

Aditya reminisces about her on a beach. He spots some children making sand castles and remembers his metaphor. He goes and makes castles with them.